Chapter 26
“Maybe if you stare at it long enough, your amazing telekinetic power will finally reveal itself.”
I snapped my head up and found Tamara on the other side of my desk. I would have asked how long she’d been standing there, but her way-too-wide grin was answer enough.
“Is there a reason you’re staring at your phone like that? Or are you just being your normal, weird self?”
There was a reason all right. I wanted to call my wife. But since she was having a morning out with her friend, there was no need for me to call other than to check in. Which I wasn’t doing at all.
I missed her and wanted to hear her voice.
And maybe I wanted her to come to the office after her shopping trip so I could kiss her stupid, as she liked to say.
I’d been doing a lot of that lately. Kissing her and sometimes even touching her. The kissing had happened daily over the past week or so. The touching, a bit less. She was still learning to trust me, to feel comfortable enough to let me in.
She was getting there, though.
After that first night, she’d crawled into bed with me four times. And every time, she’d let her guard down a little more. First, she’d let me slip my hand under her shirt and feel her breast against my palm.
It was perfect. Full and lush, and all I wanted to do was bury my face in her chest and take turns licking her nipples. But I’d kept my mouth shut because I knew she wasn’t ready.
I was rewarded for that the second night she was in my bed. The moment the lights had dimmed, Snow pulled her shirt over her head. I might not have been able to see her, but, fuck if I didn’t have my fill.
After that night, I knew her breasts were my new favorite place.
The third time was absolutely wild. She’d blown my damn mind when she’d slid on top of me and rode my covered erection. And even though we’d both been very much clothed, I came faster and harder than I ever had.
It was fucking embarrassing.
Until Snow snuggled into the crook of my neck and whispered that after reading about it in her books, she’d always wanted to know what it felt like to have an orgasm like that.
After that night, I knew I needed to take up reading.
The fourth night—last night—was right up there with the others. Her hands had been on me, my fingers deep inside her. She’d come hard. And when it was my turn, she’d lowered onto her back and guided me to her stomach.
Her skin was wet and sticky not even a full stroke later. I’d cursed the darkness then. Not for the first time because I ached to see her, all of her.
But only when she was ready.
Until then, I’d have my fill in all the new ways she was introducing to me. And as hot as all of it was, I still loved kissing her the most.
I was fucking addicted to kissing her.
Couldn’t get enough.
The thought of my lips on hers consumed me.
Hence, the reason for my staring-at-my-phone predicament.
“All right, boss-man, I hate to tell you this but you’re not superhuman, and neither am I, for that matter. I can’t hear your thoughts, so you’ll have to be a big boy and use your words.”
I aimed my frown at her. “What?”
“Oh, this is too good.” Tamara laughed. “Hate to break it to you, but you zoned the hell out. And usually there’s only one reason why that happens.”
I scraped a palm over the scruff on my jaw. “Why are you here?” Maybe if I changed the subject, she’d leave so I could return to pining over my wife.
“Well, since you obviously asked. Whenever my brain checks out like that, I know it’s time to check in with Lolli. I usually just send her a text to let her know I’m thinking of her. Sometimes, I even send her a dirty one. Keeps the spark alive.”
“Tamara,” I groaned. “I don’t need to know that.”
More laughing came from across the desk. “I’m just saying, never hurts to let them know they’re on your mind.”
“Thanks,” I deadpanned. “I’m assuming you didn’t waltz into my office just to give me that invaluable little nugget.”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. I almost cupped my balls to make sure they were still there.
“Silly me for thinking the stick was successfully removed.” A stack of folders landed on the desk in front of me. She tapped the top one. “The year-end function files you asked for…without an explanation, I might add. The entire PR floor is running around with their hands in their hair over this.”
“I have my reasons.” I gave her a pointed stare. “Thanks, Tamara.”
She got the hint and left my office without another word. The door clicked shut, and my gaze immediately dropped to the files. Excitement, along with a healthy dose of trepidation, bubbled through my veins when I thought of the plan that’d slowly been taking root inside my brain over the last few days.
It was risky, but everything about it felt right.
A ping from my phone drew my attention to the device. I picked it up, my heart immediately making funny dips at the prospect of possibly receiving an unprompted text from Snow.
It wasn’t.
But it did get me thinking. Maybe Tamara was onto something? How would Snow know how often she was on my mind if I never showed her?
Opening the messaging app, I scrolled to her name. There was no message thread for us. I didn’t like it. Lips pursed; my thumbs hovered over the screen. Having never texted someone just for the heck of it, this was a foreign concept to me.
Where did I even start?
That sounded dumb. Angrily, I poked the tiny arrow until the screen was blank. Yet again, Tamara’s words rang in my ears.
I took a deep breath and tried again.
No. That wasn’t right either. I tried one more time.
Me: Wish you were here.
I hit ‘send’ before I could change my mind. Seeing the words on my screen unlocked something inside me. It felt big—too big for my body. I pushed it aside and fired off another text.
Me: How do you feel about stopping by after your shopping date with Natalie? Waiting until tonight to see you feels like an impossible task.
Carefully setting my phone down, I ignored the thundering in my chest and opened the first file. Halfway through the second page, my phone dinged with a text.
Never in my life had I grabbed my phone that fast.
Everlee Sutton: Aw. You say the sweetest things.
I frowned at the way her name appeared on my phone. Quickly scrolling through my contacts, I found her name and corrected it. Just in time for another message to pop up.
My wife: Don’t tell anyone but…I miss you, too.
There was a string of emojis after her message. One with fingers covering the eyes, another with a small smile and pink cheeks, but it was the last one I stared at the longest. It was a smiley face with hearts floating around it. I had no idea what, exactly, it meant, just that seeing it there after she’d told me she missed me did strange, strange things behind my rib cage.
I was still thinking about that when my phone dinged again.
My wife: Walking into your building now. If you’re busy in a meeting, I’ll wait with Tamara. She’s pretty fun to talk to.
That was fast. Too fast. That meant she was already on her way to me before I’d texted her. I tried not to get excited. There were many reasons why Snow would stop by the office in the middle of the day.
It didn’t mean anything.
I kept telling myself that as I slowly pushed out of my chair. The words still circled my brain when I rounded my desk. Even when I walked across the room.
But the instant my gaze landed on my beautiful wife; I realized how wrong I’d been.
It meant something.
It was there in the way her eyes lit up. In the soft upward curve of her lips.
My throat thickened ominously. It took a few hard swallows before I could finally take a proper breath.
“You look stunning,” I told her as I closed the door behind her. And shit, she really did. I didn’t mind the colorful pantsuits she usually favored. She was gorgeous in them. But this dress thing that wrapped around her curves and tied just below her breasts was something else.
“Thank you.” She smoothed a hand over her hips then held up a bag with the other. “When Natalie and I left this adorable shop, I spotted that Korean place you like.” She nibbled her lip. “Figured I’d bring you food for a change.”
She was referring to the times I’d brought takeout home or we’d ordered in. Which happened to be every night over the past nine days. I left work earlier just to have dinner with her. Besides all my other addictions, introducing new cuisines to Snow quickly became one of my favorite things, especially since she couldn’t hide her thoughts.
I fucking loved watching her face light up in delight when something delicious hit her tongue. And I always laughed at her expression when she bit into something she didn’t like.
Fuck, this woman.
She must’ve misinterpreted my stunned silence. Her eyes darted to the stack of files on my desk then gingerly lifted to mine again. “If you’re busy, I can—”
I didn’t give her time to finish. Pushing my fingers into her hair, I covered her mouth with mine. The kiss was slow and sweet, the complete opposite of how I craved to devour her. But I knew once I’d ventured down that path, I wouldn’t stop until I had her spread out on my desk, crying out my name.
It was a bit ridiculous how easily I’d turned into a hormonal teenager who’d just hit puberty. For years, sex had never bothered me. But from the moment Snow had waltzed into my life with her big green eyes and generous heart, all I could think—fantasize—about was sinking into the warmth of her body.
Proven when a small swipe of her tongue over mine sent my body into fucking overdrive. I was hard before I could even count to three. I was probably hard from the moment I’d looked at her.
Still, I tried to keep the kiss tender. My door wasn’t locked, and the thought of someone walking in and finding her in a compromising position didn’t sit well with me.
Snow, though, she had other plans. The bag she’d carried hit the carpet with a dull thud. Her hands curled into my shirt as she tried to get closer.
The thought she was that eager was fucking intoxicating.
The little bit of restraint I’d had finally snapped. Fingers digging into her scalp, I smoothed my free hand down her spine and over the delicious curve of her ass. Instead of gripping a handful of her flesh, I twisted my fingers in the material of her dress.
Pulling and pulling until I could dip my hand beneath the fabric and press my palm against her skin. The tips of my fingers brushed over her underwear, and I groaned. Lace. She was wearing fucking lace.
My mind ran rampant.
Was it black? Maybe red? Or was it white and see-through?
Fuck.
Fueled by need and desperation, I spun us and walked back around my desk. Somehow, the worry of unlocked doors had vanished from my brain. The only thing that mattered was my all-consuming need for my wife.
Reluctantly breaking our kiss, I drew back far enough to stare into her eyes. Lids hooded, irises bright with desire, she stared back at me as if in a daze.
I knew that feeling so well. I felt it every damn time she was close to me.
“Why aren’t we kissing anymore?” She licked her lips.
And I almost gave in. But as eager as I was to suck on her tongue, there was something I wanted a little more.
Trailing my fingers over her collarbone, I smiled at the sight of goosebumps pebbling her skin. She always got them whenever I touched her. I fucking loved it.
“Will you do something for me?”
She didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”
“The lace covering your ass… Let me see it.”
She reached beneath her dress, but I stopped her with a firm shake of my head.
“I want to see it on you.”
I was asking a lot. A hell of a lot. I knew this. But I also wanted to erase every bad thing anyone had ever told her. Snow was sin personified. She was fucking irresistible. It was high time she realized it.
Eyes darting left then right, she sucked in her lip and rolled it over her teeth. Here, I wasn’t going to push. She needed to weigh everything up in her head and decide on her own.
A decision I’d respect either way.
For a moment, it seemed like she was going to bolt, but then she knocked the damn air out of my lungs when she slowly spun around. Using both hands, she shoved the files out of the way and bent over my desk.
“Fuck.”
What a sight. It got even better when she reached behind her and pulled her dress up to her back.
Purple.
The lace covering her perfect ass was purple. Next to green, it was my new favorite color.
“Holy fuck, Snow.”
Gripping my hard-on through my pants, I curled over her. Her gaze met mine over her shoulder, and shit, the heat simmering in her eyes was almost too much.
“Remember last night?”
Her breath hitched. “Yes.”
“I want to do it again. But next time, I want you exactly like this.”
Snow squeezed her lids together. Her mouth parted, and the sound that escaped her was so low and so damn sexy.
“Would you like that?” I shifted my hips closer to hers. “Does the thought of me making a mess on your back turn you on?”
More puffs of air blew over her lips. Color stained her cheeks, and I already had my answer. Still, I wanted to hear it from her.
Slowly thrusting my hips, I teased her backside with my erection. “Tell me, Snow.”
“Yesss.” Her needy little moan was music to my ears.
It would have been so easy to push the pretty lace aside and make her come with my fingers. She wouldn’t even have protested if her rubbing thighs was anything to go by.
But I wanted to try something else.
Gently cupping her elbow, I helped her up and spun her around. Her dress effortlessly fell back into place. A pity really, I quite enjoyed the sight of her bent over my desk.
Unable to resist, I pressed my mouth against the skin below her ear. Snow moaned and immediately tilted her head sideways to give me better access.
“Hmm,” I breathed. “Were you hoping for a release, my sweet little Snow.”
I glanced up. Her eyes were closed, lips parted, and her cheeks rosy red.
“Don’t worry,” I continue. “I’ll make you come.”
She made a happy noise.
“Tonight…right after you read me one of those hot scenes from your books.”
Her eyes flew open, gaze immediately colliding with mine. “You want me to read you a sex scene?”
“Oh yeah.” I leaned in and nipped at her lip. “But make it really good so we can reenact it later.”
She stared at me for a few beats, her expression completely unreadable. Maybe she thought I’d lost my damn mind. I may have pushed for too much, too fast. The sudden need to apologize was so fierce, I quickly opened my mouth.
Snow was faster.
“I think that’s the hottest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
She laughed and, holy shit, the sweet sound slipped between my ribs and found residence in the darkest corners of my heart. Like a damn searchlight, it cast light on every single shadow, bidding them farewell.
“Not the words,” she added as soon as her laughter tapered down. “Well, the words, too. But the scene you painted. I can see it so clearly, and I—”
My mouth crashed to hers, stealing the words from her tongue. I kissed her with a new sense of purpose. With promise. With everything in me.
“I want everything, Snow,” I whispered against her lips. “I want your fantasies, every single one of them. I want your fears, your dreams. But most of all, I want to see your happiness.”
Her eyes welled up, turning the green deeper and darker. She reached up and dragged her palms along the scruff on my jaw.
“Liam, you—”
My door suddenly flew open.
Whoever was on the other side shoved it with such vehemence the knob hit the wall with a thud, shortly followed by Tamara’s voice.
“You can’t go in there.”
“The fuck I can’t.”
My attention landed on the commotion just in time to see Shane filling my doorway.
“You selfish fucking asshole.”